It has been a record-setting
Memorial Day weekend thus far for air travel.
And with no problems.
The Transportation
Security Administration set
a new record mark for most passengers screened in one day at United
States airports, with nearly 3 million – 2,951,163 to be exact. That broke the
record, set barely six months ago on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
It was welcome news for
the aviation industry, which has been beset by problems ranging from near
misses to a lack of air traffic controllers to the problems with Boeing.
The best part is that it
seemingly came off without a hitch. There were no massive delays or
cancelations or meltdowns by the airlines during the holiday weekend. Sure, weather delays happen, but no major chaotic scenes at the airports this weekend was a welcome sight.
The TSA
expects to screen a total of nearly 18 million passengers for the period that
began last Thursday and concludes on Tuesday. In fact, it’s been a huge time for airlines as
the TSA hasn’t had less than 2.1 million daily passengers go through security
at U.S. airport since March 3.
Leading the
way was the world’s busiest airport in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Airport, which had more than 111,000 people passed through security this past Thursday
– including passengers, crew and airport personnel. It wasn’t a fluke because
nearly 110,000 people came through the airport’s security checkpoints a day
later on Friday.
It was a good
test run for what is expected to be the busiest summer air travel season ever. Between
June 1 and August 31 the industry is predicting 271 million people will fly,
and that would break the record of 255 million.
Not included
in the Memorial Day weekend numbers are a predicted 42 million drivers hitting
the road, according to AAA. Official figures have not been released.
That also doesn’t take
into account the hundreds of people who
are able to evade airport security.
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